Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2017 - 22

For more than 20 years, Mass Exodus, known as the
largest student-run fashion show in North America,
has showcased the work of graduating fashion students
for industry experts, media and the general public.
Although participation is optional for fourth-year fashion design and communication students, most apply to
exhibit their capstone projects because the high-profile
event provides excellent promotional opportunities and
is widely considered a rite of passage.
This year, Mass Exodus featured a Ryerson Fashion
Week and for the first time the main event was held off
campus. Moving it to Daniels Spectrum, an arts centre
in the nearby Regent Park neighbourhood, was significant, says Fashion Professor Henry Navarro, who
teaches fashion promotion and oversees Mass Exodus.
"It demonstrated the School of Fashion and Ryerson
University's commitment to contributing to the cultural
life of its surrounding communities," says Navarro.
"Making changes also keeps the event interesting,"
says Daniel Drak, Fashion '13, who co-teaches Fashion
Promotion with Navarro. "That's especially true for our
audiences who come year over year."
Here are some of the creative minds who helped to
change things up at the April 8 event.
As creative director of Mass Exodus, third-year
Fashion Communication student Nadia Ebrahim had
many responsibilities. She wouldn't have it any other
way. She's learning how to do her dream job before she
even graduates.
Ebrahim was responsible for ensuring thematic and
brand consistency across all production and promotional components. She worked alongside School of
Performance students and event sponsor and audiovisual firm FMAV, on the technical and staging perspectives. She also oversaw the social media committee and
helped to co-ordinate a short promotional video.
Students, she says, handled everything from developing the video concept to hiring videographer Kevin
Wu (fourth-year Radio and Television Arts student).
The music on the runway was a major part of the event,
organized by DJ Jordan Segal, another Ryerson student.
"It's great to work with so many people and bring
our strengths together to create something special,"
Ebrahim says.
When Fashion Design student Amanda Odorico
needed inspiration for her capstone collection -
loose-fitting athletic wear that can be worn before,
during and after workouts - she looked to her hometown of Vancouver. "My collection is inspired by the
waves of the west coast. There is a lot of black, white,
grey and blue in my looks," she says.
Odorico's designs were influenced by the waves' constant movement; in fact, she can likely relate to their
perpetual motion. During a year of continual deadlines,
Fashion Design students develop time-management skills
while researching their target markets, sketching and sewing their garments and creating professional lookbooks
or photos for their collections. In mid-March, the work
was submitted for grading and students presented their
22

Ryerson University Magazine / Summer 2017

WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
We asked two
grads about their
Mass Exodus

Stacey McKenzie coaches a model for Mass Exodus.

LILY CORNELL
FASHION '09

Owns the Alan
Auctor label,
based in London,
England.
Role at
Mass Exodus
Designer

What did
you learn?
"How to work
with different
teams and
departments,
the importance
of deadlines,
and how to
compromise."
How did it affect
your career?
"The aesthetic
of Alan Auctor
in its current
form is a natural
development
of my work
at school. The
same elements
of the fantastical
mixed with
sports and
premium casual
wear elements
are still there,
but refined and
market ready."

Fashion student Bronwyn Seier's "Made Not Born" collection.

"The Many Muses" collection by Eloïse Ptito-Echeverria.

Vanessa Rose Gallelli preps her collection "Abbraccio."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ryerson Alumni - Summer 2017